Tire inflation stand



Filed Aug. 30, 1945 INVENTOR EUEMAN V; 5M1 TH ATTORN EY mama PatentedApr. 15, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act ofMarch 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a tire inflation stand and more particularlyto a stand adapted to support and secure a tire assembly during theinflation -process.

When a tire in an assembly of the type including a lock rim is inflated,there is a tendency for the lock rim to be thrown off with considerableforce. A look rim so thrown is a hazard such as may cause injury toanything in its path.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a standin which a tire assembly may be supported and secured during theinflation process in such manner that a lock rim thereon is retainedagainst being thrown off.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for carrying out theforegoing object in an economical, facile and eflicient manner.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tire inflation stand embodying thefeatures of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the tire inflation stand shown inFig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

The stand of my invention comprises a rear upright I, preferably formedof steel plate or other suitable material. Preferably the lower edge ofthe upright I is substantially straight, as indicated at 2, to adapt theupright to rest on a supporting surface in a vertically disposedposition. Preferably the height and width of the upright I approximatethe diameter of a large truck tire of the type normally secured to awheel by means of a lock rim.

Secured to the front face of the rear upright I, as by welding orthreaded engagement, are a pair of spindles 3 and 4. Preferably thespindles 3 and 4 are substantially circular in cross section and theirlongitudinal aXes are disposed perpendicularly to the plane of theupright I.

The stand also comprises a front upright 5, also preferably formed ofsteel plate or other suitable material, and supported in spaced parallelrelation to the rear upright I. Preferably the exterior configurationand dimensions of the front upright 5 are substantially similar to thoseof the rear upright I. The lower edge of the front upright 5 preferablyhas a cut-out 6 therein to furnish access to the valve of a tireassembly supported in the stand.

The front upright 5 has a pair of apertures therethrough positioned toreceive the spindles 3 and 4 on the rear upright I. Preferably a pair ofhollow sleeves 1 and 8 are secured to the front face of the frontupright 5, as by welding or threaded engagement, in registry with theapertures therethrough. Preferably the sleeves I and 8 are cylindricaland their longitudinal axes are disposed perpendicularly to the plane ofthe upright 5. Preferably the bores through the sleeves "I and 8 are ofa diameter such that the spindles 3 and 4 are snugly received thereinbut are freely slidable therethrough. A pair of braces 9 and to may beprovided between the sleeves I and 8 and the upright 5, the braces beingpreferably in the form of angle irons welded to the respective members.

The rear upright Imay have a key-hole slot II therethrough, preferablylocated in the central portion thereof, and the front upright 5 may havean aperture I2 therethrough, which is substantially aligned with thekey-hole slot II. A tie rod I3, having a head I4 adjacent one end and athreaded portion I5 adjacent the other end, may be fitted through theapertures II and I2. Preferably the head I4 is inserted through thekey-hole slot' II and the threaded portion I5 protrudes forwardly of thefront upright 5. A nut I6 may be threadedly engaged with the threadedportion I5 of the tie rod I3.

A lever I! may be pivoted to the rear face of the rear upright I toprovide a means for retaining the tie rod I3 against rotary movement orrelative movement rearwardly of the rear upright. The lever IIpreferably has a handle portion I8 that protrudes beyond the edge of therear upright I to furnish a convenient means for operating the lever. Atthe opposite end of the lever I1 is a latch portion I9 adapted to beengaged over the head I4 of the tie rod I3 to prevent rotary or relativerearward movemen of the tie rod.

A stop 20 may be secured to the spindle 3 or 4 to limit relativemovement of the upright 5.

Operation The stand is assembled but with the tie rod I3 removed. A tireto be inflated and ordinarily being in an assembly of the type includinga lock rim is placed between the uprights I and 5 with the valve beingsituated where it is accessible through the openin 6 in the frontupright 5. The front upright 5 is pushed rearwardly along the spindles 3and 4 to clamp the tire assembly between the uprights.

If the tie rod I3 is included in the structure, it is placed through thecentral portion of the tire assembly and the head I4 is engaged with thekey-hole slot II. The nut i6 is applied to the threads I and tightenedthereon to confine the tire tightly between the uprights.

The latch I9 on the lever I! may be engaged 5 ceived between saiduprights, a tie rod connecting over the head I4 on the tie rod [3 tohold the said uprights adapted to clamp said uprights tie rod inposition. against a tire assembly therebetween and means The tire isinflated by appropriate means. holding said tie rod against rotation.

Normally the inflation process has a tendency to 2. A tire inflationstand comprising a rear upthrow the lock rim off the assembly. However10 right, a pair of spindles secured to said rear upthe uprights l and 5retain the lock rim securely right, a front upright having a pair ofapertures in the tire assembly. 1 therethrough receiving said spindles,a pair of The inflated tire may be removed from'the sleeves. secured tosaid front upright in registry stand by loosening and removing the nutl6 and with said apertures and receiving said spindles, removing the tierod l3 and then sliding the front the space between said uprights beingadapted to upright 5 forwardly. 1 receive a tire assembly, said frontupright having While I have shown but one embodiment of a cut-outtherein adapted to furnish access to my invention, it is apparent thatthe device is su's- .the valve of a tire assembly supported betweenceptible to modification without departing from said uprights, and a tierod connecting said upthe spirit of the invention. I do not wish,thererights adapted to clamp said uprights against a fore, to be limitedby the disclosures set forth, tire assembly supported therebetween. butonly by the scope of the appended claims.

The inventiondescribed herein may be manu- THURMAN V. SMITH. facturedand used by or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental REFERENCES CITED purposes Without the payment of anyroyalties The following references are of record in the thereon ortherefor. fil of this patent;

I claim:

1. A tire inflation stand comprising a rear up- UNITED STATES PATENTSright, a pair of spindles secured to said rear up- Numb r Name Dateright and being perpendicularly disposed thereto, 1 1,202,444 soleauOct. 24, 1916 a front upright positioned in spaced parallel rela-2,323,846 Saltsman July 6, 1943 v tion to said rear upright and having apair of 431,373 Mendenhall July 1, 1890 apertures therethrough receivingsaid spindles, 945,877 Updegrafi Jan. 11, 1910 w a pair of sleevessecured to said front upright 4,443,896 Kaufman Jan, 30, 1923 inregistry with said apertures and receiving said 2,315,799 La Guardia etal. Apr. 6, 1943 upright having a cut-out therein adapted to furnishaccess to the valve of a tire assembly re-

